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Former President Jerry John Rawlings says the “bad image” of the John Mahama-led administration could cost its victory in 2016, unless integrity is restored.
“It’s most unfortunate but the image of both the government and the party [National Democratic Congress - NDC]...is as bad as what it was into the John Evans Atta Mills’ period and before he died and that’s not healthy at all”, the former President told the media in Accra earlier this week.
His counsel to President Mahama is for him to bring people with vision to his government in order to restore hope to the party and Ghanaians.
“These personalities will have to be bold and ready to think outside of the box. We have to have people who can raise the image of the party hopefully extend it onto the Executive as well. Because quite frankly... if the NDC does not, she will be fighting on the same terms as [New Patriotic Party]”, former Rawlings asserted, in reference to recent rebellion and infighting within the opposition New Patriotic Party.
As the governing National Democratic Congress go to congress in October to elect new National Executives, the former President also called on delegates to elect bold individuals capable of advising the government against wrong doings.
The former President also raised issues with President Mahama's commitment to fighting corruption, and urged him to do more.
According to President Rawlings, although he has made these same calls many times, not much has been done to rescue the image of the party and government, which he said was “suffering under a cloud and climate of corruption”.
“How many times hasn’t he [President Mahama] assured the public of dealing with corruption, and yet we are not seeing enough that will help to clear the image of the government”, he reiterated.
The former President’s comments will be the second of such criticisms of the Mahama-led government within a week.
During a special congregation at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), last week Thursday, where an honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on him and two others, Mr Rawlings said “the unprecedented levels of corruption, offensive show of power and opulence by some at a time when our country requires prudence and frugality, is an issue that I call on President Mahama to set his eyes on.”